[Rumil]

Durbethelwen,

I am amazed at your perspicacity upon this much debated subject - Bambi of course was first aired in 1942, before the Lord of the Rings had even been published!

Is it a coincidence that Tolkien claimed to dislike allegory and had an inveterate hatred of Disney? What was he trying to cover up?

Now to hear that he stole plot ideas from Walt himself must surely shake our faith in Tolkien as the greatest fantasy author of the 20th century and raises far more disturbing questions. How much of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was ripped off by Tolkien? is Gimli Sneezy, Dopey or Grumpy? Is the poisoned apple merely a forerunner of the one ring? Was Sauron the original sorceror's apprentice?

I appeal to the great and good of the Downs to perform an in-depth analysis of the potential influence of early 20th century cartoons upon the genesis of Middle Earth.

I await your analyses with trepidation, my friends!